Mass. General Laws c.118E § 10A

Required coverage for prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care

This is an unofficial version of a Massachusetts General Law. For more information on this topic, please see law about Medicaid (MassHealth).

Updates

• Amended by St.2022, c.127, §§ 18-19, effective July 29, 2022
• Amended by St. 2024, c. 186, §§ 39-40, effective November 21, 2024
• Amended by St. 2026, c. 137, § 71, effective July 9, 2026

Section 10A

The division shall provide coverage for abortion, as defined in section 12K of chapter 112, abortion-related care, prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care, with a minimum of forty-eight hours of in-patient care following a vaginal delivery and a minimum of ninety-six hours of in-patient care following a caesarean section for a mother and her newly born child. Any decision to shorten such minimum coverages shall be made by the attending physician in consultation with the mother. Any such decision shall be made in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department of public health. Said regulations shall be relative to early discharge, defined as less than forty-eight hours for a vaginal delivery and ninety-six hours for a caesarean delivery and post-delivery care and shall include, but not be limited to, home visits, parent education, assistance and training in breast or bottle feeding and the performance of any necessary and appropriate clinical tests; provided that the first home visit shall be conducted by a registered nurse, physician, certified nurse-midwife or licensed certified professional midwife; and provided, further, that any subsequent home visit determined to be clinically necessary shall be provided by a licensed health care provider.

Subject to the receipt of all necessary federal approvals and availability of federal financial participation, the division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization, accountable care organization or primary care clinician plan shall provide coverage for services rendered by a certified nurse-midwife designated to engage in the practice of nurse-midwifery by the board of registration in nursing pursuant to section 80C of chapter 112, and the payment rate for a service provided by a certified nurse-midwife that is within the scope of the certified nurse-midwife’s authorization to practice shall be equal to the payment rate for the same service if performed by a physician.

Subject to the receipt of all necessary federal approvals and availability of federal financial participation, the division and its contracted health insurers, health plans, health maintenance organizations, behavioral health management firms and third-party administrators under contract to a Medicaid managed care organization, accountable care organization or primary care clinician plan shall provide coverage for midwifery services, including prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care, provided by a licensed certified professional midwife regardless of the site of services.

For the purposes of this section, attending physician shall include the attending obstetrician, pediatrician, certified nurse-midwife or licensed certified professional midwife attending the mother and newly born child.

Last updated:	July 9, 2026